Career Trips

We have some additional room on the Phoenix career trip and wanted to reach out to any of you who are still on the fence about what Arizona has to offer. I asked David Packard, an alumnus of the program, to write a couple of paragraphs telling you what he enjoys most about living and working in Arizona—he sent you more than a page! He also provided you with his contact information and is willing to answer any questions you have. Please read his argument for attending this trip and then submit your application here.

General Questions: byumpa.careerservices@gmail.com

MPA Friends,

I’m going to let you in on a little secret… Arizona is awesome. Why, you ask? Because I said so. And I would know. I’ve lived here my whole life and would be pretty content to stay here. And here’s why…

Weather: Arizona winters are amazing. While the rest of the nation faces up to 2 feet of snow and sub-zero temperatures this weekend, I’m enjoying a 74 degree sunny day. Amazing. Yes, summers are pretty dreadful, but with A/C and a swimming pool, surviving an Arizona summer isn’t unheard of. And if you embrace it, you can get the best golf rates of your life. $10 for 18 holes and a cart anyone?

Quality of people: Are you single and looking to mingle? You are definitely not alone. In fact, MPA single ladies, I have a 26-year-old stud brother I might have to set you up with. If you’re married, AZ is a great place to bring your young family. It’s very affordable and you’ll find many other young married couples too. Also, there are lots of Church members but also many opportunities to work/live with nonmembers. I’ve already had a number of Church conversations with co-workers/neighbors. It’s a great balance here.

Activities: There’s a vibrant sports environment here. Professional baseball, basketball, football, and hockey and spring training all throughout March. There’s more than just sports. If you’re a playgoer (like Dr. Thompson) you can go to the Hale Center Theatre in Gilbert. There are a number of museums, art centers and other venues. If you’re obsessed with Utah cuisine, you won’t have to say goodbye to Kneaders, Café Zupas, or Café Rio. And you should be able to shop at a Winco grocery store near you.

Finding a job: Arizona has a huge BYU alumni network. And many of these alum offices are hiring right now, including my own. You won’t have to compete with so many MPA classmates. I really felt like I stood out with my BYU MPA during the AZ job hunt and was able to get a job offer a few months before graduation. I definitely recommend that. Remember, the end goal of college is to get a job. Once you get the job, there are plenty of great alums who’d be your mentor, especially in local or state government.

Alright, maybe I haven’t swayed you to bag your packs and move down to Arizona for the rest of your life, but if nothing else, you should at least go on the AZ career trip.

Want a spring break during winter semester?
Average January high temp in Provo: 39
Average January high temp in Phoenix: 70

Build an excellent network of great alums. Take me, for example. :)

Career trips can be expensive, but Arizona should be a little bit cheaper than the others:                
Allegiant Air one-way flights between Provo and Phoenix/Mesa the next month: Cheap as $47.

Gilbert Temple (largest temple the Church has built in the past 17 years) Open House will be going on.

Most importantly, there are great job prospects. I went on the trip twice, I know who you’ll visit. Take my word for it, there’s a high likelihood you will land an internship--or especially a job--as a result of this trip.

Need more convincing? Give me a call or shoot me an email.

David Packard

BYU MPA Class of 2013

480-220-1581   

davidpackard7@gmail.com